Tag - child

Elijah and the Sermon

October 15, 2015

Elijah & the Sermon: The Good News of the Gospel is pretty simple, so simple that even my 4-year-old could preach it. From my Write 31 Days series, "Out of the Mouth of Babes."

When my boys are together, they are always playing pretend. Well, I guess that’s not 100-percent true. Sometimes they play with LEGOS, or color and make crafts, or fight. But a lot of the time, even their other play involves some kind of pretending.

Since Elijah is the oldest, he tends to direct what they’ll be imagining about that day. Lately there have been many sessions of “school” where Elijah is the teacher and Josiah is the student. It’s really cute to listen to, until Josiah doesn’t do exactly what Elijah wants him to, and they go from playing to fighting. (It happens so quickly, doesn’t it?)

One of the cutest pretend plays they have done, at least that I’ve overheard or seen, was the day Elijah decided to play “preacher.” I really wish I could have recorded their “service.”

Elijah pulled out a tall side table to be his podium, and he and Josiah took turns talking at the podium and sitting behind it in the rocking chair, which I guess was part of the platform.

Pastor Elijah began the service by introducing himself and taking attendance. (I’m not sure where he got the idea to take attendance, unless that’s something he saw in Sunday school.) Once he was warmed up, he led his imaginary congregation in singing both made-up and recognizable praise songs.

He spent some time writing stuff down, and when I asked him why he had to have the pencil and paper, he told me it was “because I’m the preacher.”

Elijah graciously stepped aside to allow Josiah to do their announcements. Of course, Josiah wasn’t as practiced at public speaking, so there weren’t very many announcements to be made.

Once Elijah was back at the podium, he was ready to preach, and preach he did.

This was his message:

“Jesus died on the cross. He died because He didn’t want YOU to die.”

Then he closed in prayer.

That was his whole sermon – two sentences. Short, sweet, and simple.

But then it really is that simple. My then-4-year-old understood the Good News of Jesus better than a lot of adults, who like to make things way more difficult than they need to be.

It reminds me of the scene in Mary Poppins where Bert had drawn lots of beautiful chalk pictures on the pavement and is trying to show the Banks children how to “do a bit of magic” to get into the pictures.

His instructions are, “You think. You wink. You do a double blink. You close your eyes and jump.”

When nothing happens, Mary Poppins takes over, scolding Bert for overdoing it. “Why do you always complicate things that are really quite simple?”

She takes the children’s hands, and all it takes is, “1…2…” and they are all transported into the chalk pavement pictures for a “Jolly Holiday” that is “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

The Gospel isn’t “think, wink, double blink, and jump.” It’s more “1…2…”

It’s “Jesus died on the cross. He died because He didn’t want YOU to die.”

It was so encouraging and precious to listen in on their play and see their foundations in God being so firmly established.

It was kind of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

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Elijah and the Laser Eyes

October 14, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: Write 31 Days - Elijah and the Laser Eyes, red lasers

A few months ago, I saw this video posted on Facebook, and being a sucker for videos of kids answering questions, anticipating the cute and unpredictable things they’ll say (ahem…my series is “Out of the Mouth of Babes: 31 Quotes from My Children”), I watched it.

In this video, they ask 50 people – adults and children – one question: “If you could change one thing about your body, what would it be?”

I loved the children’s responses. I don’t want to spoil it for you, so do yourself a favor, and watch the 4-minute video below before reading the rest of this post. I promise you’ll be encouraged. 🙂

Okay, so you watched it, right? Ok. So, how cute were those kids? I love the mermaid tail answer. Oh, and the cheetah legs. And the wings. Actually, all the kids had great answers.

Did you notice how the adults went from smiling and curious about the question, to slightly insecure when they heard it, and then to just plain sad as they answered?

Not so with the kids. They saw the question for all of its fun, positive possibilities and ran with it, while most of the adults went straight to their perceived imperfections.

All except for one. The older lady at the end was comfortable, confident, and content with herself. Her thoughts were, “I chose to stay this way because it just wouldn’t be me if I totally changed the way I look.”

She was joyful and just a delight because of it, and almost as cute as the children.

After I first saw this, I was curious about how Elijah might answer the same question, so I asked him what he would change, if he could change one thing about his body.

It didn’t take a lot of thinking on his part, and his reply didn’t disappoint: “I would change my eyes, so they can do like Superman’s, shooting lasers.”

Awesome. Just what we need around here – a 5-year-old with laser-shooting eyes.

I guess we’ve learned yet again that kids can teach us a lot about being confident in who God created you to be and also to be always looking to the positive possibilities.

So, always be yourself. Unless you can be yourself with a mermaid tail, or cheetah legs, or laser eyes. Then always be that you. 🙂

Jamie and the Candy

October 13, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: Write 31 Days - Jamie and the Candy. We are to live our lives to please God, not the other way around.

For today’s “Quote from My Children,” I’m bending my meaning of “my children” a bit. I don’t have a child named Jamie, but several years ago, our church team and I taught a little boy named Jamie, along with dozens of other children who attended our “Sidewalk Sunday School” outreach. When I minister and teach, all the kids take a place in my heart as “my children.”

For most of high school, I spent my Saturday mornings on the basketball court of a rough low-income housing development, singing songs, playing games, and teaching children about Jesus and how much He loves them. It was just like children’s church on Sunday morning, except the kids weren’t all decked out and spit-shined. When they saw us arrive or heard the music start up, they would rush out of the apartments in whatever clothes they did (or did not) have on, hair all kinds of crazy, remnants of breakfast or last night’s dinner on their faces and hands, and some without shoes, so it was a good thing we’d swept up all the broken glass before the kids arrived.

They ran to us because they knew they were welcomed, cherished, and loved. They came every week, leaving Saturday morning cartoons behind, for a chance to have fun, laugh, hear about a God Who loved them, and get prizes and candy, in addition to hugs and kind words.

The “Quiet Seat” prize was always a big deal and great incentive for children to sit as still as they could, be quiet when they needed to be, and participate when the time came. Of course that prize of a giant candy bar, a small toy, bubbles, or something else exciting to a child was only for one boy and one girl who were extra special good that day. Other smaller prizes could be won by playing one of the games throughout the event.

While kids worked really hard to earn the Quiet Seat prize or win a game, they were consoled by the fact that everyone who came, sat, listened, and participated would get a small bag of candy at the end. Once the songs, games, memory verse, lesson, and prayer were done, our team would make our way through the 40 or so kids gathered to pass out candy to each one. We always reminded them that Jesus loved them.

Jamie was one of our regular attenders, a boy of about 8 or 9. He lived in the complex and came pretty much every week. We knew his siblings and his grandma. And we ALL knew Jamie.

He was a bit of a handful – obstinate, loud, fidgety, and prone to arguing with the other kids. Since we had the kids sit girls on one side with female team members and boys on the other with the men on the team, Jamie drove some of my youth group guy friends CRAZY!!!

Then one day as we were passing out candy, somehow Jamie got overlooked. I think it was an accident. 🙂

Suddenly we hear Jamie complaining, “Jesus don’t love ME ‘cause I didn’t get any caaandy!” (Really wish I could type it as it sounded – a little southern boy with LOTS of attitude…who didn’t get any caaandy.)

Of course we remedied the situation quickly and gave him his candy, but he continued to make a big deal about how he hadn’t gotten any initially because…well, that was Jamie.

His quote became a quotable to me because of the way he said it and because of what was behind what he said.

He could have easily just said, “I didn’t get any candy,” and we would have gotten him a bag. But he took what he KNEW we wanted him to know – that Jesus loves him – and made his lack of candy into a lack of love from Jesus.

Because, you know, WE didn’t let him down. Jesus did.

I honestly don’t think he thought that; I think he was just trying to be somewhat manipulative and get extra attention, bless his heart.

But there are SOOO many people who do this and believe it.

If Jesus loved them, He would make them happy.

If Jesus loved them, He would solve their problems.

If Jesus loved them, He would give them what they want.

If Jesus loved them, people wouldn’t let them down.

If Jesus loved them, their loved one would be well.

If Jesus loved them, nothing bad would ever happen to them.

I’m not sure when Jesus became equated with a genie in a bottle or Santa Claus, but that is not how it works. The Gospel isn’t that Jesus is here to jump up at your every beck and call to please you. It’s actually kind of the opposite.

He loved us before we even knew Him, died for us when we REALLY didn’t deserve it, and He offers us forgiveness and eternal life that He paid for. In return, we offer Him all of us because this is the only thing we have, and even that doesn’t match all He’s done for us. We are to live our lives to please Him, not the other way around.

Does He bless us? Yes. Do we deserve it? No. Does He want us to have an abundant life? In John 10:10, Jesus says that’s why He came, but make sure your definition matches His.

People who decide to follow Jesus so they can be “happy” end up a bit disappointed. They seem to skip over verses such as John 16:33 where Jesus promises trouble. (Thanks, Jesus.) But really, He says, “In this world you WILL have tribulation…” So, no. Not always a happy, no problems ride.

However, in that same verse, He also tells us, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.” and “be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He wants us to have peace and good cheer, but it’s not from a lack of trouble. We can have peace and joy even in the midst of trouble because we are rooted in Him.

God is so good to us. We never deserve it. He always loves us. We don’t deserve that either. He sent His Son to us to be mistreated, beaten, despised, and killed – for us. And we have the nerve to snap our fingers, and say, “Garçon.”

If we loved Jesus, we would live our lives to make Him happy and bring Him joy.

If we loved Jesus, we would walk in obedience, patience, and trust, asking for His wisdom, which would probably prevent or solve at least some of our problems.

If we loved Jesus, we would make what He wants and asks of us our top priority.

If we loved Jesus, we would forgive those who have hurt us and let us down.

If we loved Jesus, we would trust His plan and believe He is in control.

If we loved Jesus, we could face the bad, knowing that He is with us and that He works all things “for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

If we loved Jesus, we’d know that He loves us, and be content in that, even when we don’t get any candy.

Elijah and Heaven

October 12, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: Write 31 Days - Elijah and Heaven. Elijah's conversation about meeting friends in Heaven.

The summer Elijah turned three, our family mourned the passing of both my paternal grandmother and Brad’s maternal grandfather. Elijah knew that they had both dealt with illness and poor health for quite a while, and we had been to visit them both as often as we could, so he’d become close to them.

Elijah has always been a rather mature child when it comes to spiritual things, so we didn’t hesitate to talk to him about it when his great-grandpa died. I explained to him that while we would still see Great-Grandpa’s body in the casket at the funeral, the “real” him had already gone to Heaven to be with God because Great-Grandpa had trusted in Jesus as his Savior and followed Him. We were able to say the same when his great-grandma passed.

Elijah still would have questions every so often, but the conversations we had with Elijah prior to the funerals and in the months following are what eventually led to him making the decision to give his heart to Jesus and follow Him. I know that my grandma and Brad’s grandpa rejoiced that day in Heaven.

: Great-Grandma with 2-month-old Elijah

: Great-Grandpa

: My beautiful sister-in-law, Nancy, with her mother, Deborah.

Then this year, not long before his fifth birthday, we had another death in the family, my sister-in-law’s mother, Miss Deborah.

When we told Elijah about it, we talked about how much Miss Deborah loved Jesus and how she was ready to be with Him.

Elijah said, “I wonder what she’s doing right now in Heaven?”

I replied, “I don’t know, but I bet she’s happy.” Nodding, he agreed, “Yeah, she’s probably talking to everyone.” (Miss Deborah was a warm, sweet, welcoming woman, and I could see her talking to everyone)

Then I had a thought I knew he’d like. “Maybe she said, ‘Hi’ to Great-Grandma.”

Smiling, Elijah clearly enjoyed the idea of them meeting each other again in heaven. “Yeah! She probably already saw Great-Grandpa, and she was like, ‘Who’s that?’ because she’d never met him.”

Then he added, “When I go to Heaven, I’m going to see Noah and Elijah.” (From the Bible)

I asked, “What about God?”

“I’d probably see Him all over. He’ll probably be popping up everywhere!”

While it was a sad time, and we still miss them all, it was sweet to be reminded of the joy that awaits us with God and think about how “He’ll be popping up everywhere!” 🙂

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” – Revelations 21:3-5

Elijah and the Ensemble

October 11, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: Write 31 Days - Elijah and the Ensemble. Let's just be real and honest

As I’ve already mentioned this past week, Elijah and nap time/quiet time stopped getting along quite a while ago. Quiet Time was instituted when it became very clear that getting him to actually nap every single day was just a happy memory.

His naptime had actually been a futile effort for a few months before it was put out of its misery. I spent much of “naptime” hearing noises in his room, then going up to investigate, then telling him to get back into his bed, and then coming back downstairs until the bumps, squeaks, and thuds started again.

Sometimes, though, he was a bit stealthier in hiding his lack of napping. However, as he has learned, Mommy will always figure out the truth sooner or later, and usually sooner than you want her to. You can’t hide stuff from your moms, kids! (Especially not ones who are listening closely to the Lord. If she doesn’t find out on her own, He’ll reveal it to her. Can I get an “Amen!”?)

One day when Elijah laid down for his nap, he was wearing a long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans. He wanted to leave his clothes on, and I let him. After a book, a prayer, and a hug, I left him upstairs to rest.

Less than hour later, my child came downstairs in an entirely new, and decidedly unique, ensemble. One look at his outfit, and I knew he hadn’t even TRIED to take a nap.

When I asked him what he was doing out of bed so early, he claimed, “I took a good, long nap.”

It was hard to keep a straight face, especially with him wearing a silly little hat that was several sizes too small because it came off a stuffed animal! A stuffed animal that, I might add, was not anywhere near his bed.

When I questioned him, he denied any and all accusations that he might have been playing instead of napping. Uh-huh.

Standing in my living room, I studied his sweater and shorts combo accessorized with the giant Mickey bag, his face with its carefully serious and innocent expression, and did my best not to laugh at the ridiculousness.

He totally thought he could fool me.

Even as I laugh at this silly picture of the boy who tried to lie to Mommy, I can’t help but think about how many times we try to do this as Christians.

No matter how clearly our lives are showing one thing (struggle, difficulties, bad habits, lack of time with God), we can pretend like the best of them. We’ll smile, tell people “I’m fine,” and raise our hands in worship while our mind is anywhere but on God. We hope that the people around us are fooled.

It’s kind of like when we try to take those “Pinterest perfect” pictures to post online. You pick the least messy part of the house to take the picture to make everyone believe that your home is really clean, not realizing that stray sock is smack in the middle of the floor in the background.

The Bible tells us, though, that “the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). God is never fooled by what we say, how we act, or what we look like. He knows us as we are – our flaws, our mistakes, our hurts, our motives, our potential.

Let’s just be real. Let’s just be honest. Let’s be repentant. God isn’t fooled, and chances are, neither is everyone else. Being real gives God the chance to extend forgiveness (If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9), help us correct our errors, heal our wounds, and encourage us in our purpose.

If Elijah would have been doing what he was supposed to, he may have had bedhead, but at least he wouldn’t have had to wear that goofy hat to hide that he didn’t.

Elijah and Two Funny Quotes

October 10, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: Write 31 Days - Elijah and Two Quotes. Celebrating the silliness of what my little boy says

Sometimes, my kids say stuff that is just plain funny, no lesson attached. Sometimes, their innocence, lack of experience, or a simple miscommunication gives us a chuckle, and that’s enough.

Today, for Day 10 of the Write 31 Days challenge, you get two quotes. Two quotes with stories that I’m sure we’ll be retelling over and over again all throughout our kids’ lives.

Elijah and the TV

Last summer our family enjoyed a slightly extended vacation down South. Since I lived in Georgia for about six years (from the end of 9^th grade to a couple years after graduation), I was very excited to see familiar places and visit some friends as well.

We first spent a week near Beaufort, South Carolina, sharing a huge vacation rental with my hubby’s family. At the end of the week, his family headed back up to Ohio, and our little crew headed down to Georgia, where we would be staying in a home owned by my former youth pastors’ family.

The River House, as they call it, was just that – a small home along the river in southeast Georgia where their family members go to spend time with friends, do some fishing, or just relax. After the adventure of finding the dirt trail road (beside the cotton field – no, not that one…not that one…maybe this one…no…) that led to the house and driving down that bumpy road for over a mile, we carried in luggage and started getting ourselves settled. Our two boys wandered through the rooms, exploring their new surroundings, while my friends answered any questions we had.

Suddenly, from across the room, Elijah exclaimed, “There’s no TV!”

Glancing over into the living room, all of us adults laughed. He wasn’t very far from what, to him, must have seemed to be just an odd piece of furniture, a very large, old console television.

Once we pointed out the television to him, his next question was, “Where’s the remote?”

Elijah and the Wookie

My hubby is a nerd. He is. But that’s okay because I, myself, have some geeky tendencies, so we get along really well. Because of this, our boys are exposed to the coolest parts of nerdiness regularly, such as Star Wars (we’re a Star Wars family, not a Star Trek family).

My boys haven’t managed to finish an entire Star Wars movie, but they still love it. (Josiah’s favorite is “Darka Bader,” so you can tell he doesn’t know the story.) We have to see every commercial, toy aisle, or t-shirt that features a Star Wars character. If it’s combined in anyway with LEGO – well, their day is just complete.

So when I found Elijah a Chewbacca t-shirt at the thrift store on New Year’s Eve a couple years ago, he was over the moon (“That’s no moon.”). He was so proud of it.

That evening we celebrated the new year with the traditional kielbasa and kraut.

The next day, when I asked Elijah what he wanted for lunch, he said, “Chewbacca.”

I laughed and said, “You can’t eat Chewbacca!”

Sometimes he can be so silly, so I thought he was just playing. However, he kept insisting and got upset. I finally realized that he was serious and that what he was trying to say was “kielbasa.”

Apparently introducing Chewbacca & kielbasa on the same day can lead to some confusion.